Thousands of Kiwis might have to Zoom in for Christmas lunch this year as COVID-19 sweeps New Zealand.
The number of people hospitalised with the virus and the average daily case count have jumped over the past week as people come together for the festive season.
Wellington woman Jessica Scott is among several Kiwis who have tested positive.
"Yesterday I felt sick, so I avoided going to work and didn't go to the staff Christmas party, and was hoping that maybe I'd feel better today," Scott said. "But [I] woke up and tested positive."
It's putting a dampener on her family's Christmas plans.
"It will be really sad if I have to Zoom in to Christmas dinner, that would be a pity," she added.
Hospitalisations and wastewater testing rates are now at the highest they have been since January, and the new variant JN.1 is gaining traction.
"We're seeing more than 400 hospitalisations a week, more than 25 deaths, so it's a significant wave," University of Auckland Nikki Turner said.
"It's responding to the fact that we are complacent and we have few restrictions. It's also affected by waning immunity," epidemiologist Michael Baker said.
MedSafe has now approved a new vaccine to target the emerging COVID-19 strains.
"The vaccine that will be coming before the winter season next year is particularly focused on the latest strains, so it should be even better matched than the one we've got now," Dr Turner said.
And while health officials are pleading with people to get their booster shots, they are also urging them to hold back sharing too much festive spirit.
"We can share the love at Christmas in different ways but, particularly if you have a snotty nose or a sore throat, please share your love at a distance - you can still eat the mince pies," said Dr Turner.
"Be conscious of the fact that if you're visiting particularly older at-risk relatives and friends. Just be aware of the environment you are meeting them in and try and shift outside," Prof Baker said.
